According to a 2018 study by the Singapore Environment Council, we use about 1.76 billion plastic items here each year, of which 820 million are plastic bags from supermarkets. That’s a lot of plastic bags for a nation of 5.69 million people.
Although many of us do reuse plastic bags to line garbage bins or as carriers, there’s still a lot of room for cutting down the number we take from shops and supermarkets. And you can do so without cramping your style.
Here, we show you where to find reusable shopping bags that tick all the boxes for good looks, functionality and eco-friendliness.
Reusable Shopping Bags
The Green Collective
Stocks a range of green lifestyle products that encourage you to live, eat and use responsibly. Take your pick from different kinds of shopping bags, such as linen bags with artworks by local special needs artists, foldable totes and handwoven bags recycled from plastic waste.
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The Sustainability Project
Aiming to encourage Singaporeans to adopt a low or zero waste lifestyle, this platform carries a wide range of high-quality sustainable products at fairly affordable prices. Besides jute and woven shopping bags, it also stocks Kind reusable shopping bags which are made from used plastic bottles.
Peco Bag
Made fully out of recycled plastic bottles, these handy shopping bags fold down into a small pouch and can hold up to 10kg of stuff. There’s a range of quirky patterns in bright, cheery colours to choose from.
Sift & Pick
This is where you go for a wide range of fashion, beauty and lifestyle indie labels. The types of shopping bags on offer here range from lightweight, foldable carriers to rectangular totes and sturdy canvas bags.
Sometime
Featuring bags, shoes and accessories by various Asian designers, even the canvas shopping totes here look luxe. You also even personalise the bags with your name or initials.
Little Farms
This grocer doesn’t just offer healthy whole foods and artisan produce, it also sells Kind shopping bags. Its own jute grocery bag looks great too.
Rally Rally
The site curates colourful, stylish and eco-friendly products from international and homegrown labels. Here, you’ll find reusable shopping bags by US brand Baggu, made from recycled ripstop nylon and built to hold two to three times as much weight as a disposable grocery bag.